Clasp for bracelets or the like



3, 1950 E. MOREHO'USE 2,515,510

CLASP FOR BRACELETS OR THE LIKE Filed Feb. 16, 1948 Eugene mz efioase 441 252 z neys Patented July 18, 1950 .oLAsP FOR BRACELETS on IKE vEugene Morehouse, Providence, R. I., assignor to of 'Rhode Island A. Ballou & 10., Incorporated, a corporation Application February 16, 1948, s ria No. 8,601

This invention relates to a clasp, such for example as is used in connection with a bracelet or the like.

Bracelet clasps of various constructions have been made. These clasps vary in mechanical aptitude for the functions which they perform and in the simplicity of construction and strength characteristics.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a clasp which is particularly adapted for securing a relatively wide, but thin, band about the wrist of the wearer.

Another object of the invention is to provide a clasp which itself is very thin. 7

Another object of this invention is to provide a clasp which will be extremely simple in construction and highly efficient in its operation.

Another object of this invention is to provide a clasp which is formed from a minimum of parts whereby the assembly operations are reduced to a minimum.

With these and other objects in View, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction as will be more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective View of the clasp showing in dotted lines a band whose ends may be held together by the clasp;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the clasp detached from the bracelet;

Figure 3 is a sectional view on line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a sectional view similar to Figure 3, but illustrating one of the members as moved r relative to the other member, so as to be in a position to be detached therefrom, such as shown in dotted lines;

Figure 5 is a sectional view on line 5-5 of Figure 3;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of one of the members on a larger scale than that shown in Figure 1;

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the other member on a larger scale than that shown in Figure 1; and

Figure 8 is a perspective View of the look.

In proceeding with this invention, I provide a pair of plates. On one of the plates, I fold down a pair of hooks; while on the other plate, I provide a pair of recesses to receive these hooks with an arrangement such that when there is a relative movement of the plates after the hooks have been passed through the openings, the marginal portion of the plate about the opening traps the 3 Claims. (01. 24--230 hooks therein so as to prevent the hooks from being removed from the opening, and I then provide a lock to prevent relative movement of the members, so that the hooks cannot again line up with the opening until this lock is manipulated to permit such movement.

With reference to the drawings, I0 designates generally one member, and II, the other separable member. The member I I is provided with a slot I2 for attachment to a ribbon or some band, such as shown at I3 in Figure l. The plate is offset as at I 4, and from the edge l5 of the plate a pair of hooks I6 are bent downwardly, the portion I! of these hooks extending laterally with reference to the longitudinal or encircling extent of the bracelet I3.

The member It! comprises essentially a plate I8 which also has a slot I9 for the reception of the other end of the band l3. This plate is folded to provide a housing 20 consisting of end walls 2| and 22 and a bottom wall 23. In the top wall of this housing there is provided a pair of slots 23 which extend widthwise of the plate or bracelet sufflciently to receive through them the hooks I6 of the member I I. Then by relative lateral movement of the members I0 and II, the hook portions I! are positioned beneath the plate I8, as shown in Figure 3 or 5. Thus, the plates cannot be moved away from each other when in this relative position, and in order to maintain the plates in this relative position, I provide a lock 25, which is shaped as shown in Figure 5 or 8, and which is pivoted by a pin 26 extending through an opening 2'! therein on the top wall or plate I8. This lock has a finger piece 28 extending therefrom so that it may be readily grasped by the user of the bracelet. It has a cam surface 29 with an end surface 38, so that when swung from the position shown in Figure 4 to the position shown in Figure 3 or 5, the cam surface 29 will force the hooks laterally, and the surface 30 will provide a lock engaging these hooks so that the members cannot be again moved into a position such as shown in Figure 4 for separating the members I!) and I I.

In use the two plates will be positioned together with the hooks extending through the openings and will be moved to the position shown in Figure 4, such as by swinging the lock 25 to cause such movement, and when the lock is so swung to the position shown in Figure 5, the parts cannot be separated. To release, it is merely necessary to swing the lock from the position shown in Figure 5 to the position shown in Figure 4, then laterally slide the members and ings, the second member carrying a plurality of a hooks projecting therefrom and lying in a plane perpendicular to the plate to pass through said openings and then be laterally moved to position the hooks over the marginal portion of the plate about said openings, and a cam movably mounted on the first member to engage one of said hooks to move the second member laterally and lock said members in position.

2. In a clasp as in claim 1 wherein said cam is pivotally mounted.

3. In a clasp as in claim 1 wherein said cam is provided with a finger piece to move it and from looking position.

EUGENE MOREHOUSE.

4 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 977,609 Freeman Dec. 6, 1910 1,280,176 Darling Oct. 1, 1918 1,560,756 Byran Nov. 10, 1925 2,098,461 Micallef Nov. 9, 1937 2,117,393 Bateson May 17, 1938 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 461,601 France Jan. 7, 1914 

